Electronic cigarette cover

ABSTRACT

A cover for an e-cigarette having a mouthpiece for emitting vapor, includes a top cover part, a bottom cover part and a mechanism configured to be actuated by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette. The mechanism may be a spring interconnecting the top cover part and the bottom cover part, each of which surround the e-cigarette. The spring permits the top cover part to move between an upper released position covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of the spring and a lower actuated position exposing the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of the thumb of the user. Flexible regions, knobs, detents and recesses may also be used as the mechanism and the top part may have a cap. Disposable and rechargeable e-cigarettes may be used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a cover for an electronic cigarette ore-cigarette, which allows the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette to becovered to promote cleanliness.

2. Description of the Related Art

An e-cigarette is a personal vaporizer or electronic nicotine deliverysystem which is battery-powered and simulates tobacco smoking. Thee-cigarette uses a heating element or atomizer for a liquid solutionwhich may contain a mixture of nicotine and/or flavorings. Most, but notall, e-cigarettes are cylindrical and look like tobacco cigarettes. Someare one-piece disposable units and some have disposable andinterchangeable liquid flavor containers and rechargeable batteries.

In contrast to tobacco cigarettes which are smoked and discarded, alle-cigarettes are used over and over again. Therefore, the mouthpiece ofthe e-cigarette is subject to soiling and contamination by germs whentouched by the hands or other objects and such soiling and contaminationcan easily come into contact with the mouth of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an e-cigarettecover, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of theheretofore-known devices of this general type and which allows themouthpiece of an e-cigarette to be covered when not in use to promotecleanliness.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, inaccordance with the invention, a cover for an e-cigarette having amouthpiece for emitting vapor. The cover comprises a top cover part, abottom cover part and a mechanism configured to be actuated by the thumbof a user for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece of thee-cigarette. The mechanism may be a spring interconnecting the top coverpart and the bottom cover part, each of which surround the e-cigarette.The spring permits the top cover part to move between an upper releasedposition covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of thespring and a lower actuated position exposing the mouthpiece of thee-cigarette under force of the thumb of the user. Flexible regions,knobs, detents and recesses may also be used as the mechanism and thetop part may have a cap. The cover may be used with disposable orrechargeable e-cigarettes.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin an e-cigarette cover, it is nevertheless not intended to be limitedto the details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of the inventionand within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIGS. 1-12 are diagrammatic, perspective and elevational views of afirst embodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, inwhich a top cover part, a bottom cover part and a spring are formed inone piece;

FIGS. 13-17 are perspective and elevational views of a second embodimentof the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a topcover part, a bottom ring and a spring are formed in one piece;

FIGS. 18-21 are perspective and elevational views of a third embodimentof the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a topcover part, a bottom cover part and a spring are formed in one piece andused for a rechargeable e-cigarette;

FIGS. 22-25 are perspective and elevational views of a fourth embodimentof the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a topcover part, a bottom ring and a spring are formed in one piece for usewith a rechargeable e-cigarette;

FIGS. 26-29 are perspective and elevational views of a fifth embodimentof the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which the topcover part hides the spring;

FIGS. 30-33 are perspective and elevational views of a sixth embodimentof the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which the coveris formed in one piece with a thin plastic part instead of a spring;

FIGS. 34-37 are perspective and elevational views of a seventhembodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in whicha soft material acting as a spring is molded in one piece with a topcover part and a bottom cover part;

FIGS. 38-45 are perspective and elevational views of a eighth embodimentof the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which a topcover part and a bottom cover part are formed in one piece and a springis elongated by a knob;

FIGS. 46-47 are perspective and elevational views of an ninth embodimentof the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, which is similar tothe seventh embodiment, but is used with a flavor container for arechargeable e-cigarette;

FIGS. 48-53 are perspective and elevational views of a tenth embodimentof the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in which the coveris formed in one piece and a rubber ring holds the e-cigarette inexposed and recessed positions;

FIGS. 54-59 are perspective and elevational views of a eleventhembodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in whicha bump on a bottom cover part holds a top cover part and the bottomcover part in place;

FIGS. 60-67 are perspective and elevational views of an twelfthembodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, which issimilar to the first embodiment, but has a stopper which holds the topcover part in a lowered position;

FIGS. 68-73 are perspective and elevational views of a thirteenthembodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in whicha facet ring or a facet body prevents the cover from rolling; and

FIGS. 74-79 are perspective and elevational views of a fourteenthembodiment of the e-cigarette cover according to the invention, in whicha cap on the top cover part covers a mouthpiece of the e-cigarette andalso covers a top surface of the e-cigarette when the top cover partmoves up.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first,particularly, to FIGS. 1-12 thereof, there is seen a first embodiment ofan e-cigarette cover 1 including a top cover part 2, a bottom cover part3 and a spring 4 which are preferably, but not necessarily, formedtogether in one piece from a hard material such as plastic. In areleased position shown in FIG. 1, the top cover part 2 covers amouthpiece region 5 of an e-cigarette 7 which touches the mouth of auser and has a hole 6 from which vapor emerges. In order to use thecover 1, the user slides the top cover part 2 downward into an actuatedposition by using the thumb of one hand 10 which compresses the spring4. When released, the spring pushes the top cover part 2 upward again tocover the mouthpiece region 5. The spring 4 provides a mechanismactuable by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and coveringthe mouthpiece region 5 of the e-cigarette 7.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate further details of the cover 1 in the releasedposition, covering the mouthpiece region 5, from which it can be seenthat the spring 4 may be formed in one piece with the top and bottomcover parts from a thin plastic, but may also be a metal spring moldedwith the plastic top and bottom cover parts 2, 3 or all three components2, 3, 4 may be formed of metal. A body 8 of the e-cigarette 7 may beseen, as well as a cap 9 disposed at the bottom of the bottom cover part3 or formed in one piece with the bottom cover part 3. The e-cigarette 7is inserted into the cover 1 from the bottom and held in place by atight fit or snap connection or adhesive and the cap 9. FIGS. 7-9illustrate further details of the cover 1 in the actuated position andFIGS. 9-12 show the cover 1 disassembled from the e-cigarette 7. A snapconnection of two cylindrical bodies is understood to mean that there isa detent or bump on one body and a recess or another detent or bump onthe other body, which slide across one another and lock with the detentor bump of one body in the recess or on the other side of the detent orbump of the other body.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-17, a short cover 21 can beseen, in which an end of the spring 4 or a rim or ring 12 replaces thebottom cover part 3 of the first embodiment. The top cover part 2, thespring 3 and the rim or ring 22 are formed in one piece from plastic ormetal or a combination thereof, as described above. In this case, thee-cigarette has a step 23 formed thereon on which the rim or ring 22 orthe end of the spring rests. The cover 21 operates like the cover 1.

In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 18-21, a cover 31 can be seen ashaving a top cover part 2, a bottom cover part 3 and a spring 4 formedfrom plastic or metal or a combination thereof, as described above.However, the cover 31 is used for a rechargeable e-cigarette 32 having aflavor container 33 and a battery 34 interconnected by a threadedconnection 35. In this case, the battery 34 is snapped or glued to thespring 4.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 22-25, a short cover 41 is seento have a top cover part 2, a spring 4 and a bottom ring 42 formed fromplastic or metal or a combination thereof, as described above, for usewith a rechargeable e-cigarette. The bottom ring 42 is held in place ona flavor container 43 by a tight fit or snap connection or adhesive. Theflavor container 43 is connected to a battery 44 by a threadedconnection 45.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 26-29, a cover 51 includes a topcover part 2, a bottom cover part 3 and a spring 54 formed from plasticor metal or a combination thereof, as described above. In this case, thetop cover part 2 hides the spring 54, but otherwise, the cover 51operates like the cover 1.

In the sixth embodiment shown in FIGS. 30-33, a cover 61 is formed as aone-part plastic cover which has a spring region 64 cut into strips 65.The spring region 64 divides the cover 61 into a top cover part 62 and abottom cover part 63. The strips 65 are thin enough to deform and bulgeoutwardly when the top cover part 62 is pushed down by the thumb, as canbe seen in FIGS. 32 and 33. A portion of the e-cigarette body 8 isexposed in the process. Once again, the top cover part 62 will assumethe released position when the thumb releases it. The spring region 64provides a mechanism actuable by the thumb of a user for selectivelyexposing and covering the mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the seventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 34-37, a cover 71 is seen inwhich a top cover part 72, a bottom cover part 73 and a spring region 74are molded together in one piece. The spring region 74 is formed of asoft, flexible material such as rubber, TPU, TPE or TRR. When the topcover part 72 is pushed down by the thumb of a user, the spring region74 is deformed and bulges outward as shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, butreturns when released. The spring region 74 provides a mechanismactuable by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and coveringthe mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the eighth embodiment shown in FIGS. 38-45, a cover 81 has a window86 formed therein and the e-cigarette 87 has a body 88 with a knob 89 tobe actuated by the thumb of a user who reaches through the window 86.The window 86 divides the cover 81 into a top cover part 82 and a bottomcover part 83. FIG. 41 shows a spring 84 holding down the e-cigarettebody 88 so that the mouthpiece 85 of the e-cigarette is covered by thetop cover part 82. FIG. 45 shows that upon sliding the knob 89 upwardwithin the window 86, the spring 84 is stretched and the mouthpiece 85is exposed. The knob is limited in its movement by edges of the topcover part 82 and bottom cover part 83 forming stops. When released, thespring pulls the e-cigarette downward again. The window 86, the knob 89and the spring 84 provide a mechanism actuable by the thumb of a userfor selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece region of thee-cigarette.

In the ninth embodiment shown in FIGS. 46-47, a cover 91 operates likethe cover 81, but an e-cigarette 97 has a flavor container 98 and abattery 99 which are interconnected at a threaded connection 95.

In the tenth embodiment shown in FIGS. 48-53, a cover 101 is formed inone piece and has a top end bead 102 and a bottom end bead 103, both ofwhich have an inside diameter which is smaller than the inside diameterof the rest of the cover, but larger than the outside diameter of thee-cigarette 107. The cover 101 also has a bump or detent 105 on theinner surface thereof at a distance below the top end bead 102. Thee-cigarette 107 has raised portions or points 106, 108, between which arecess 109 is formed. A rubber ring 104 is secured in the recess 109.

In order to move the e-cigarette 107 from the retracted position shownin FIGS. 48-50 to the exposed position shown in FIGS. 51-53, the usershakes the cover 101 and the rubber ring 104 jumps over the bump ordetent 105, until it is stopped by the top end bead 102, allowing themouthpiece of the e-cigarette 107 to be exposed. In this position, therubber ring 104 frictionally holds the e-cigarette 107 in the exposedposition. Another shake will return the e-cigarette 107 into theretracted position in which the bottom of the e-cigarette 107 is stoppedby the bottom end bead 103. The elements 104-106 and 108-109 togetherprovide a mechanism, actuable by the thumb of a user, for selectivelyexposing and covering the mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the eleventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 54-59, a cover 111 has a topcover part 112 and a bottom cover part 113. As is best seen in FIGS. 56and 59, the top cover part 112 has a top end bead 114 and a bottom end115, both of which have an inside diameter which is smaller than thebasic inside diameter of the rest of the cover 111, but larger than theoutside diameter of the e-cigarette 7. The bottom cover part 113 has abump 116 with an outside diameter which is larger than the basic outsidediameter of the bottom cover part 113 and larger than the insidediameter of the top end bead 114 and the bottom end 115. In theretracted position shown in FIGS. 54-56, the bottom end 115 and the bump116 are engaged with each other and hold the top cover part 112 in aposition covering the mouthpiece 5 of the e-cigarette 7. However, a usercan easily overcome this hold and slide the top cover part 112 down withthe thumb into the exposed position shown in FIGS. 57-59 in which thetop end bead 114 and the bump 116 are engaged with each other and thebottom end 115 frictionally engages the e-cigarette 7 to hold the topcover part 112 in a position exposing the mouthpiece 5 of thee-cigarette 7. The elements 114-116 together provide a mechanism,actuable by the thumb of a user, for selectively exposing and coveringthe mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the twelfth embodiment shown in FIGS. 60-67, a cover 121 is shownwhich is similar to the cover of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.1-12, in that a top cover part 122, a bottom cover part 123 and a spring124 are preferably, but not necessarily, formed together in one piecefrom a hard material such as plastic, although a metal spring may bemolded with the plastic top and bottom cover parts or all threecomponents may be formed of metal. However, in this embodiment, ane-cigarette 127 has a bump or detent 125 which engages into a recess orindentation 126 formed in the inner surface of the top cover part 122 tohold the top cover part 122 when pushed down by the thumb in theretracted position. When the top cover part 122 is pushed up using thethumb, the components or elements 125, 126 are released and the topcover part 122 bounces back into the released position due to the actionof the spring 124. The elements 125 and 126 together provide amechanism, actuable by the thumb of a user, for selectively exposing andcovering the mouthpiece region of the e-cigarette.

In the thirteenth embodiment shown in FIGS. 68-73, a cover 131, which isotherwise similar to the cover of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.1-12, has a facet rim or ring 135 on the top cover part 132 and/or afacet portion 136 on the bottom cover part 133, which prevent the cover131 from rolling.

In the fourteenth embodiment shown in FIGS. 74-79, a cover 141 is shownwhich is similar to the cover of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.1-12, in that a top cover part 142, a bottom cover part 143 and a spring144 are preferably, but not necessarily, formed together in one piecefrom a hard material such as plastic, although a metal spring may bemolded with the plastic top and bottom cover parts or all threecomponents may be formed of metal. However, in this embodiment, the topcover part 142 has a cap 145 held to the rest of the top cover part 142by a thin plastic, elastic web 146. The cap 145 and the top cover part142 meet at a slanted parting line 147 as shown in FIGS. 74-76. When thetop cover part 142 is pushed down against the force of the spring 144,the mouthpiece 5 pushes the cap 145 away as shown in FIGS. 77-79,exposing the mouthpiece 5. When the top cover part 142 is released sothat the cover assumes the released position, the web 146 springs orbiases the cap 145 back into its closed position, covering themouthpiece 5. The cap 145 is part of a mechanism, actuable by the thumbof a user, for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece regionof the e-cigarette.

1. A cover for an e-cigarette having a mouthpiece for emitting vapor, the cover comprising: a top cover part, a bottom cover part and a mechanism configured to be actuated by the thumb of a user for selectively exposing and covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette.
 2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein: said mechanism is a spring interconnecting said top cover part and said bottom cover part; said top cover part, said bottom cover part and said spring surround the e-cigarette; and said spring permits said top cover part to move between an upper released position covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of said spring and a lower actuated position exposing the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette under force of the thumb of the user.
 3. The cover according to claim 2, wherein said top cover part, said bottom cover part and said spring are formed as one piece.
 4. The cover according to claim 2, wherein said top cover part, said bottom cover part and said spring are separate pieces being molded together.
 5. The cover according to claim 3, wherein said one piece is formed of plastic or metal.
 6. The cover according to claim 4, wherein said separate pieces are at least partly formed of plastic or at least partly formed of metal.
 7. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said bottom cover part is a ring held against the e-cigarette.
 8. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said bottom cover part is a ring abutting against a step of the e-cigarette.
 9. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the e-cigarette has a flavor container and battery releasably connected to one another.
 10. The cover according to claim 7, wherein the e-cigarette has a flavor container and battery releasably connected to one another.
 11. The cover according to claim 2, wherein said spring is completely surrounded by said top cover part.
 12. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism is a spring region cut into strips and dividing the cover into said top cover part and said bottom cover part, said strips deforming and bulging outward upon pushing said top cover part downward by the thumb of the user and moving inward upon being released by the thumb of the user.
 13. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism is a spring region formed of flexible material dividing the cover into said top cover part and said bottom cover part, said flexible material deforming and bulging outward upon pushing said top cover part downward by the thumb of the user and moving inward upon being released by the thumb of the user.
 14. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a window formed in said cover, a knob formed on the e-cigarette and accessible through said window and a spring, said spring holding down the e-cigarette upon said knob being released by the thumb of the user and being stretched upon moving said knob upward by the thumb of the user to expose the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette.
 15. The cover according to claim 14, wherein the e-cigarette has a flavor container and battery releasably connected to one another, and said knob is formed on the battery.
 16. The cover according to claim 1, wherein: said mechanism includes an elastic ring held on the e-cigarette and a bump or detent formed on an inner surface of the cover and dividing the cover into said top cover part and said bottom cover part; and said elastic ring configured to be moved between a position retained below said bump or detent with the cover covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette and a position above said bump or detent with the cover exposing the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette, by shaking the cover.
 17. The cover according to claim 1, wherein: said top cover part has a basic inside diameter and a top end bead with an inside diameter smaller than said basic inside diameter; said bottom cover part has a basic outside diameter and a bump with an outside diameter being larger than said basic outside diameter and larger than said inside diameter of the top end bead; and said top end bead and said bump forming said mechanism holding said top cover part in a position covering the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette when said bump is disposed below said top end bead and in a position exposing the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette when said bump is moved below said top end bead by the thumb of the user.
 18. The cover according to claim 2, wherein said top cover part has an inner surface with a recess or indentation formed therein and configured to be engaged by a bump or detent on the e-cigarette to hold said top cover part against a force of said spring when pushed down by the thumb of the user into said actuated position.
 19. The cover according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said top cover part or said bottom cover part has a facet or rim preventing the cover from rolling on a surface.
 20. The cover according to claim 1, which further comprises: a cap held on said top cover part by an elastic web, said cap and said top cover part meeting at a slanted parting line; and said cap being pushed away from said top cover part by the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette upon pushing said top cover part downward by the thumb of the user, and said elastic web biasing said cap back into a closed position covering the mouthpiece upon upward movement of said top cover part. 